Alright. So I’m way late getting on this boat but I figure since I really I want to be on it, that I’ll dive into the water and swim out as fast as possible, kind of like Ariel racing out to stop Eric and Ursula’s wedding. Ahem

A friend of a friend, James, is doing this over on his blog and when I read his entries, I’m all, “Oh, I should’ve done this!”

The Best of ‘09 Blog Challenge and all of it’s details can be found here. Really, this girl seems pretty cool and lax with the rules, so you can join in anytime.

Tonight, I’m going to do Day 1 – 10.

December 1 – Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?

I can honest to goodness say that I don’t remember taking a trip this year. Sadness! All of my family lives within a 10 minute drive and the disposable income was just not there to travel for fun. I think that’s something we’re going to have to change in 2010. At least a few jaunts up to Whistler, the interior next summer and maybe a get away over to the island for Colin and I. At least!

December 2 – Restaurant moment. Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What taste stands out in your mind?

My memory is such a horrendous thing. Right now, the one that sticks out in my mind was a day that both Col and I skipped work, dropped the girls off at daycare and headed to The Boathouse. We sat on a sunny patio in early summer, overlooking the ocean for a couple of hours; it was so free and spontaneous and magical … and a real treat for the both of us. I can’t remember what I ate, but it was delicious and the wait staff was awesome at lunch hour.

December 3 – Article. What’s an article that you read that blew you away? That you shared with all your friends. That you Delicious’d and reference throughout the year.

Since I don’t often read newspapers or magazines (shut it, Baker) … I’m going to have to choose blog post(s) that I thought were pretty amazing.

I shared this one by Jordan at SuperForest around the internet a lot. I thought it was spectacular for someone who likes to write and create.

Also, anything written by Jason Mraz on Freshness Factor Five Thousand rocked my world. I think I read his entire blog from conception in one (long) night.

Oh, and every single tribute I could get my paws on about Michael Jackson. Shush.

December 4 – Book. What book – fiction or non – touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies?

I’m going to be a broken record here, but The Art of Happiness changed everything for me. I remember opening it in bed one night and being in wonder with this man and his faith. I haven’t given away copies, or my copy, because it’s actually Colin’s book if you can believe that. Hey, I was surprised when I found it on him.

December 5 – Night out. Did you have a night out with friends or a loved one that rocked your world? Who was there? What was the highlight of the night?

Two nights out were my very best. The first one was my girlfriend’s and one of Colin’s best friend’s wedding. It was THE best wedding I’ve ever been to in my life. No frills, brief, casual ceremony (the groom wore shorts and bride, a short, sexy number), sunny, hot summer night. Everyone glistening and looking and feeling sexy. Open bar. Good music. Lots of young people. I just felt like a million bucks that night. It was pretty much my own dream wedding!

Second was the Jason Mraz concert. I’ve written in detail about it already. Pure magic.

December 6 – Workshop or conference. Was there a conference or workshop you attended that was especially beneficial? Where was it? What did you learn?

None.

December 7 – Blog find of the year. That gem of a blog you can’t believe you didn’t know about until this year.

I Wrote This For You. Best blog in the world. Hands down.

Runner up goes to vancityrockgirl. This girl is amazing. Genuine, strong, sweet, deep at times, opinionated, funny, smart and downright awesome. I have to agree with James that she’s totally readable. Reading her diary-style blog is like sitting with a good friend everyday and just shootin’ the shit.

December 8 – Moment of peace. An hour or a day or a week of solitude. What was the quality of your breath? The state of your mind? How did you get there?

I think my greatest moment of peace (at least most recent moment) happened this weekend when understanding, words, forgiveness and thanks were had. I felt a calm and peace in my heart and soul afterward that was pretty indescribable. That and Colin had taken the girls out for the morning and the world was very quiet.

December 9 – Challenge. Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?

Clawing my way out of a really dark hell I fell into in February. I didn’t just go the edge, but fell in deep and hard and my life was turned upside down in a way I never thought possible. I think true forgiveness of myself and others was the big challenge here and as many times as I said it over and over again that it had happened, it didn’t truly come until a month or two ago.

This has been a really fucked up year for me! The most of my entire life. I’m so beyond stoked to say goodbye to it and roll into a fresh new year with all of the lessons I’ve learned.

December 10 – Album of the year. What’s rocking your world?

Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

In this house, weekend mornings are super chill. Slooooow Mo. No clocks, no plans, no obligations. One of my favourite things to do on a Saturday is listen to a little inspiring music, pour a fresh cup of coffee and do a good meme.

So this morning it’s all about Explosions in the Sky ‘Birth and Death of a Day‘ – which I believe is the most inspiring musical creation in the history of music … oh my GOD, this song and video are so good that my mind wants to explode in pleasure after I do something wild like grow wings and fly around the world sprinkling golden fairy dust while kissing millions of cheeks and delivering taser shots of love … it’s seriously so inspiring and gorgeous … a reminder of why I’m alive … to experience beautiful things like this.

Oh, and a meme my friend, Raino, shared on her blog earlier.

So, so much love to her … she’s a gem. Her generous and giving spirit will be remembered every Christmas when I set out the beautiful tree skirt she sent me last year from across the country.

As for the meme, it’s a deep thinking one and I love it. Let’s do it …

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Perfect happiness, hmmm. For me it’d be a combination of excellent health … madly and passionately loving and being loved … the ability to create something beautiful everyday … to give myself to the world in a way that would bring light, hope and joy to people’s lives who are less fortunate than myself … opening my bedroom window to sunshine and breathing in clean, fresh air every morning then drinking a glass of fresh squeezed juice made from the oranges I just picked off the tree in my backyard.

What is your greatest fear?

Forgetting people, experiences, feelings, memories.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

None.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Ego, negativity, desperation to fit in or being without passion.

What is your greatest extravagance?

An hour all to myself in a hot bath, glass of wine to sip.

What is your current state of mind?

Ease, peace, calm, inspired, open.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Kindness, passion, compassion and the ability to love and be loved.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Kindness, passion, compassion and the ability to love and be loved.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Amazing and awesome! I think a new world is due … amasome … awezing … ?

When and where were you happiest?

In this moment.

Who are your favorite writers?

The thinkers and dreamers, the songwriters and poets, the ones who inspire and who aim to touch the stars and beyond.

Which talent would you most like to have?

To dance like Michael Jackson or one of his dancers in This Is It.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?

Our location – I’d love to steal them away to a warmer climate at the edge of the ocean in a hippie-esque community away from urban sprawl and pollution. A simpler, cleaner way of life.

If you died and came back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

A wandering, adventuring soul with only a notebook and camera.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?

Nothing. Acceptance and self-love is a pretty amazing thing.

Where would you like to live?

Like I said before, a warmer climate at the edge of the ocean in a hippie-esque community away from urban sprawl and pollution. Somewhere I can grow gardens, flowers and orange and lemon trees.

What is your most treasured possession?

My photos.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Being without love or the ability to love.

What do you most value in your friends?

Ease, laughter, the ability to share themselves as well as listen, sing, dance, smile, cry and hug … and the ability to have comfortable silences and quiet contemplation in each other’s presence.

What are your favorite names?

Callie and Lily … but also, Brooklyn. That’s what I was going to name my daughter if I had only one.

What is it that you most dislike?

Wet cold, alarm clocks, negativity, angry, egotistical and harsh people, close mindedness.

What is your greatest regret?

No regrets, baby. I’ve loved my entire journey so far.

How would you like to die?

Suddenly … like if Earth just exploded into dust in the universe.

What is your motto?

Focus on the moment. Be love.

I’m stealing this meme from rockstar, Laura. Yoink!

How long have you been blogging:

My first blog started in July 2007.

Why did you start blogging:

Most likely a combination of boredom and wanting to share pictures and stories to a large group of family and friends.

What have you found to be the benefits of blogging:

I’ve met some good people, read some great stories, received some excellent advice.  It’s become a passion and it’s good to have something.

How many times a week do you post an entry:

Depends on what’s going on. At least three times each week though.

How many different blogs do you read on a regular basis:

I’ve got 231 unread posts in my Google reader right now.  Either I read way too many blogs or don’t read enough. Take it as you will, but pass the sucky blogger of the year award over here.

Do you comment on other people’s blogs:

I have my days of commenting greatness but more days of suckage.

Do you keep track of how many visitors you’ve had:

‘How many’ people read my blog doesn’t matter whatsoever. But yes, I have Statcounter and WordPress has a little statistics thing that’s kind of cool.

Do you ever regret a post that you wrote:

There are most definitely more than a few times in blogging that I wish I’d kept my thoughts and feelings to myself. But regret? Nah…I try and live without regret.

Do you think your audience has a true sense of who you are based on your blog:

I would think so. I write a personal blog and usually write about me first because of it.  I try and avoid becoming pigeonholed into any one genre, but especially parent blogger. No offense, I read many and like them, but I refuse for my identity to be based on my role as a mother.

In the same breath I’ll answer no, they don’t have a true sense of me. There’s also a lot I don’t say here for various reasons but mostly to keep things light and as not to hurt anyone.

Do you blog under your real name:

No. But I don’t keep my real name under wraps either. My Facebook link is right up there.

Are there topics you would never blog about:

Umm, yeah. I’m pretty laid back in that I really don’t care about much to do with politics or current events or gossip. Religion -  as I don’t really know what I believe in yet, if anything. I’d never do one of those sex toy reviews – I’d rather cut off my own fingers than write that shit.  Nor would I do a review on any product for that matter – only because I don’t care about your opinion on products and if you’re anything like me, you don’t care about mine. Thanks to everyone for keeping that stuff on side blogs for the people who do care. Hmmm, I guess that’s it.

What is the theme/topic of your blog:

Me. My world.  It’s random really.

Do you have more than one blog. If so, why?

Yes. It’s private for now. Why? Because I can.

Have you ever deleted a comment from your blog.

This blog? No. Comments from angry anonymous people or creepers don’t see the light of day here – it’s the beauty of first comment moderation. In my previous blog, yes, I did once.

Brunette…

A bunch of mothers and daughters…

My Mommy and Me…

A meme, tagged by Jenty…

1. What time did you get up this morning? 9ish

2. How do you like your steak? Medium rare

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I can’t remember. I’m not really into spending our free nights at movies anyway – not a huge deal.

4. What is your favorite TV show? Meh. I don’t really watch TV.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? I’m living in it – Canada.

6. What did you have for breakfast? Ketchup with a side of hash browns

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Greek, Thai, Schezuan

8. What foods do you dislike? fast food, pizza, sushi

9. Favorite Place to eat? Hy’s Steakhouse/Kobe Steakhouse

11. What are your favorite clothes? Jeans, tanks, hoodies, pajamas

12. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Greece, New York

13. Glass 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? My wineglass is always 1/2 empty. My glass of life is 1/2 full 99% of the time.

14. Where would you want to retire? Traveling Canada/US in a luxury RV. I dread the concept of sitting around doing nothing – in retirement we won’t stop moving till we’ve hit a KOA.

15. Favorite time of day? After the kids are in bed – between 8pm and 11pm

16. Where were you born? Suburbia, British Columbia

17. What is your favorite sport to watch? Hockey

18. Bird watcher? With my girls, sure.

19. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning person

20. Do you have any pets? No

21. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share? Colin’s making me a romantic dinner tonight – new and exciting to me!

22. What did you want to be when you were little? Flight attendant – and then I flew *panic attack*

23. What is your best childhood memory? I had an amazing childhood – too many best memories to list

24. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog if I had to chose, but I’m not into animals aka another person to bath, feed and clean up after

25. Are you married? No

26. Always wear your seat belt? Yes

27. Been in a car accident? Yes, I was the passenger. Me driving? No.

28. Any pet peeves? Nothing I’m overly peeved by these days.

29. Favorite Pizza Toppings? If I must, all veggie, no meats for me, thanks

30. Favorite Flower? Lilies

31. Favorite ice cream? Meh. I’ll pass on ice cream. Geez, I sound so boring.

32. Favorite fast food restaurant? No fast food is my favourite fast food.

33. How many times did you fail your driver’s test? Once

34. From whom did you get your last email? SparkPeople – yes, I’m a member

35. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? iTunes, Lush, more likely a place for stuff for the kids and/or Col or my home

36. Do anything spontaneous lately? Came very close to climbing up and jumping in the coolest fountain I’ve ever seen but Colin stopped me ’cause we were with the girls. He promised we’d go back when they’re sleeping over at gramma’s house after a drunky night out

37. Happy with your job? Delighted.

38. Broccoli? Yup.

39. What was your favorite vacation? Anywhere I’ve jetted off to whether with friends or family has been awesome.

40. Last person you went out to dinner with? Colin

41. What are you listening to right now? Tracks from the upcoming Matthew Good ‘Vancouver’ album

42. What is your favorite color? Yellow

43. How many tattoos do you have? One. One too many

44. How many are you tagging for this meme? None. Have at ‘er if you want though.

45. What time did you finish this quiz? 6pm-ish

46. Coffee Drinker? One a day

***

Hope everyone had a nice weekend, I did.

Still pretty tired though – hopefully will be back with more brain and less dumb this week.

Sorry, I wrote this last night, but wasn’t able to publish till now.

It was a busy weekend, got much accomplished and I’m feeling pretty good. I didn’t have time to do a meme on Saturday, but liked the looks of this one. Thanks, Jenty and Laura for sharing. Steal it if you want, it was fun to do.

~

I am…listening to music waiting for the caffeine buzz to wear off so I can go to bed.

I have…realized that my sketch feeling last week was due to the full moon which tends to bring out my inner madness. Will be sure to keep track of that from now on

I know…everything is going to be okay in the end no matter what happens in my job.

I think…way too much.

I don’t think…sometimes. In a stupid way.

I want…balance.

I have…just finished the most amazing novel.

I like…the same things I did in the last twelve memes I’ve done when asked this question.

I dislike…TV, foot massages, baskets of unfolded wrinkled laundry, excessive rain and wet cold, news – papers/shows/websites, politics, dessert, sushi, soft drinks, flying, speed, baseball, excessively loud/overbearing people – that goes for personality, voice, fashion, etc., gossip – real life or websites, shopping for myself, guys wearing sequins, skulls and roses (Christian Audiger/Ed Hardy).

I hate…nothing and no one, unless they drink and drive or commit some other selfish, stupid, heinous act.

I dream…every night, vividly and sometimes lucidly.

I fear…not being in control.

I am annoyed…by nothing and no one at this very moment.

I crave…touch, good conversation, peace.

I usually…never sleep in past 7:30 A.M. on weekends.

I search…for the girls missing thing or things way too often. Their job is to lose it and mine is to hunt it down.

I hide…in the bath. I’m not really hidden, but it’s my escape where no one or nothing bothers me.

I wonder…always. I’m a very curious person.

I just can’t help…still having a Facebook account. I’ve shut down every other social network but I can’t pull the plug on that – and I’m never on, so it’s a weird thing.

I regret…90% of the choices I made in the past three years, but regret is poison, so I’ve let go of it.

I love…Colin, Callie, Lily, family and friends.

I can’t live without…the basics – shelter from the elements, food, basic clothing water, clean air – the rest I could live without as I long as I was with loved ones.

I try to…forget.

I enjoy…good company + good food + good wine. All at once.

I don’t care…about Blackberry, iPhone and other wireless phenomenons, unless it’s for work. I’d refuse to be friends or romantically involved with a person whose nose was buried in ‘cool apps’ while they were in my company.

I always…have music in my head, always.

I never want to…hurt anyone I love.

I rely on…Colin to bring home the big bucks. I don’t like it, but it’s just the way it has to be right now.

I believe…in everything probably not real – conspiracies, fate, ghosts, aliens, reincarnation, dreams meaning something, stars and the moon, astrology, numerology, end of the world predictions. Yeah, I’m lame. I know.

I dance…with my girls, with Colin, at the sink washing dishes or when I throw on my old break beats and dust off the (very rusty) skills…dancing has always and will always be a huge part of my life.

I sing…to my girls (two songs each) every night at bedtime, while walking them to and from school, in the shower, when I cook and clean, the nation anthem before hockey games.

I argue…too much, but I’m trying to breathe instead. I don’t like petty, stupid, exhaustive arguing.

I write…as much as I can in handwriting.

I win…for living in the rainiest part of the world.

I lose…the remote and Wiimotes, my grocery savings card, my door fob, my mind on occasion.

I wish…on stars.

I listen…at this very second ‘In the Waiting Line’ by Zero7.

I don’t understand…a lot of things and people, myself included.

I’m scared of…this meme never ending, geez.

I forget…a lot of things. I remember life, the past – some things to tiny, unimportant detail. It’s my short-term memory that’s fried. I struggle at work quite a bit and have to keep detailed notes and organization on everything I do.

I am happy…indeed.

~

It’s Saturday July 4th – Happy Independence Day, America. I really do love your Targets, accents, AM/PM, the scent and simplicity of your green money, your scary border patrol who asked me to pull into Bay 3 and proceeded to rip apart the contents of my car that one time, your cheap gas, Vegas, Tahoe, the way you say roof like “rueff”, dirt cheap clothing, outlet malls and how you sell beer and wine in the grocery stores! Simply amazing.

I’ll even look past that one time I celebrated the 4th with you on your soil and while I was watching the massive fireworks display, one of the casings (which was on fire) came straight for me as I sat on the beach. Emotionally, it may have scarred me for life, but it’s all good

You’re a great country.

Be merry and safe, my American friends!

Memes (or as Jeremy might say, “Mommy bloggers writing autobiographies and calling them memes”) seem to be the theme of my weekends, so here’s another one courtesy of who else but Laura.

Three names you go by:

1. Jen or Jenn or Jennifer
2. Pet name blanket: Hun, baby, princess, beautiful, honey, angel, cutie, sweetheart
3. Huckdoll/Huck

Three screen names you’ve had:

1. Huckdoll (and many variations)
2. jennmommy22 (during my mom forum days)
3. The Other Jen (back when I first started blogging)

Three physical things you like about yourself:

1. Legs
2. Bum
3. Eyes/Eyebrows

Three physical things you don’t like about yourself:

1. Post-twin baby stomach
2. Feet – but I think all feet are gross
3. A zit or breakout

Three parts of your heritage:

1. Russian
2. German
3. Canadian

Three things you are wearing right now:

1. Capris
2. A blue LaSenza camisole
3. A smile?

Three favorite bands/musical artists:

1. Citizen Cope
2. Explosions in the Sky
3. Jem

Three favorite songs:

I’ll just go from the above selections.

1. All Dressed Up – Citizen Cope. The song itself is average, but it’s the lyrics that do me in. Rawr!

Here’s a song for you I play
For all of my life, for all of my days
Life is short but the summer is long
And we could get together a lot before the fall
And when you get near, close enough to hear, thoughts just settle
The thoughts just clear
And I could touch you right
And I could rush you right and
Them walls gonna fall like the full moon-light

Whoa. Hi.

2. Your Hand in Mine (w/strings) – Explosions in the Sky

3. Yellow tied with On Top of the World – Jem

Three things you want in a romantic relationship:

1. Passion in all walks of life
2. Someone who likes to talk yet can have quiet, contemplative moments. Has dreams, ideas, goals, can take my breath away and whose breath can be taken away, a unique individual – I know, that’s way more than three – I’m picky. Luckily, I seem to have found it all already though
3. Laughs/Play

Three physical things about the male sex that appeal to you:

1. Shoulders/back/neck
2. Mouth
3. Eyes

Three of your favorite hobbies:

1. Reading
2. Writing here/handwritten journals
3. Puzzles, word games, board games, dice games, crosswords, card games

Three things that scare you:

1. Flying
2. Bridges
3. Excessive speed

Three of your everyday essentials:

1. My favourite pen and a notebook
2. A book/paper/puzzles for the train commute
3. Smooth legs

Three places you want to go on vacation:

1. New York
2. A Place By the Sea on the Sunshine Coast
3. Montreal

Three careers you have considered:

1. Certified General Accountant
2. Lawyer
3. Psychologist

Three ways you are stereotypically a man:

1. Beer
2. Hockey
3. I like shiny, black trucks with big engines that haul

Three ways you are stereotypically a woman:

1. Flowers
2. Baths and body products of all sorts
3. I’m highly emotionally charged

Three things you want to do before you die:

1. Take my mom and honey to NYC; skate hand in hand at Rockefeller Center with Colin
2. Catch the sunrise atop Haleakala in Maui and afterward mountain bike down the nearly 10,000 foot crater
3. Learn to sail

Three things you want right now:

1. Laundry to be dry so I can change out of capris and into a skirt
2. Ultimate relaxation – a lake, sunglasses, a chair, my book, an ice cold beer and sunscreen will do
3. My laptop to get better (I still try her everyday). I miss my iTunes, photos and general organization of my poor lappy *sadface*

I just want to say thank you for everything. Your thoughts, emails, offers of hugs, help and words of support – all of it. It always amazes me how much people care and take time out of their busy lives to read and respond.

Regardless of if you read that post or not, you all had a part in reaching out, pulling me back up to standing position, brushing me off, straightening my shoulders and knocking my chin back up. So thank you.

I’m closing the comments and pulling the plug on that post now. I’m sorry if you weren’t able to read it, I’m just ready to continue on now.

I am okay. We’re okay. The line is drawn through the day and forward I go.

Now for some fun to get me back in the groove.

1. What is your current obsession?

Tony Robbins motivational stuff and everything that branches off from there. I’ve been watching a lot of youtube videos of not just Tony, but of various motivational speakers and theorists about life, choices, happiness, emotional muscle, etc.

I’d like to buy his stuff and do the program one day, but for now I’m absorbing as much as I can for free.

2. What is your weirdest obsession?

Hmmm. I’ll come back to that one if I can figure it out.

3. Recall a fond childhood memory?

Racing down the stairs with my brother, on our bums, in sleepers.

4. What’s for dinner?

Well, last night we had some friends over for a BBQ and did strip sirloins and salad. It was so good that we might do it again, but this time add baked potatoes and Caesar salad.

5. What would you eat for your last meal?

I’d just want to sit at my favourite restaurant and order a bite of everything I love.

6. What’s the last thing you bought?

Two grande Americanos at Starbucks this morning.

7. What are you listening to right now?

Nothing in this very moment. In general though, I’m still listening to a lot of Explosions in the Sky – it’s the kind of music you’re glad to be alive to hear. No lyrics, just beautiful and moving.

8. What do you think of the person who tagged you?

No one tagged me, but I’ve seen this meme on so many blogs lately. I actually followed one chain of this meme for an hour yesterday and visited blogs I’ve never heard of because I love reading the answers so much.

That said, I finally decided to do the meme when I read it on Laura’s blog this morning – and she’s a cool chick.

9. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Whistler, BC

10. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

The spa for a massage.

11. Which language do you want to learn?

Italian

12. What’s your favourite quote (for now)?

“Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives.”

13. What is your favourite colour?

Yellow

14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?

Currently, it’s what Colin brought me home from LaSenza yesterday, but it’s always something from there that is my fave piece of clothing – if lingerie and cute sleepwear count.

15. What is your dream job?

Creating photo and video portfolios for young athletes in winter sports like skiing and snowboarding.

16. What’s your favourite magazine?

I don’t read magazines unless I’m in a waiting room – total waste of money to me.

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Sunglasses. More likely though (because I don’t think I could spend $100 on myself): a babysitter, dinner and a movie out for Colin and I. To start the date, we could try on cheap shades at Wal-Mart or something

18. Describe your personal style?

Soft, light, casual, fitted.

19. What are you going to do after this?

Start laundry.

20. What are your favourite films?

The Devil Wears Prada; The Notebook; Pursuit of Happiness; Entrapment; Thomas Crown Affair; Twilight; Crash; The Wedding Singer; 50 First Dates; Casino; The Usual Suspects

I don’t know, I’m not really a movie person – those are just a few I’d watch again or have watched numerous times.

21. What’s your favourite fruit?

All kinds of berries.

22. What inspires you?

The silence of early morning, mountains, the sky, music.

23. Your favourite books?

Again, books. Yeah, I read a lot of them, but meh. No faves – I don’t think I could read a book twice. Let’s see, I love Marian Keyes; Sophia Kinsella; Maeve Binchy. I like books with non-North American settings. I also adore quick, paperback police/lawyer thrillers.

24. Do you collect anything?

Snowbabies

25. Any advice that’s come from bitter experience?

From one of my last posts:

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.

and

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

26. What makes you follow a blog?

Depth, truth, passion.

I do read a few family type/mommy blogs and photography/niche blogs, but I prefer personal blogs with lots of realness and heart. Cakes n’ pies n’ rainbows, income-earning blogs with hundreds upon thousands of readers, blogs that try too hard, bitch too much, too dark, dripping with sarcasm – I avoid. They’re not bad things, but, too much of anything turns me off.

A mash-up is always a good thing and is what catches my attention.

I miss memes! I love reading them on other blogs and love doing them equally as much. Thanks to Jenty at Jenty’s Ramblings (also seen at Laura’s, Harassed Mom).

8 things I am looking forward to:

1. The Canucks game tonight
2. Mother’s Day
3. My 30th birthday in June (no really, I’m excited to finally say goodbye to my 20s)
4. Col’s 29th birthday in July
5. Summer
6. Disneyland in September
7. June 1 to start working part-time
8. Our good friends wedding in July

8 things I did yesterday:

1. Stayed home from work with a sickee
2. Bought the girls new sunglasses and darling yellow sun hats
3. Discovered imeem.com and last.fm and started rediscovering my love of music
4. Attempted watching Marley and Me and fell asleep in the first 10 minutes
5. Stood on a table with one of Col’s code writing texts and tracked a massive spider before throwing the book at least 6 feet and clobbering the bastard while balancing on the Ikea Poang arm chair – yea me
6. Watched a kid get busted for shoplifting then get away and flee before the cops got there
7. Took the girls for an early dinner to McDonald’s and got two horrendous CDs in their Happy Meals called Kidz Bop. Caution: Don’t listen to it if yours get it!! Kids singing “Hey There Delilah” and “Beautiful Girls” is just plain wrong in so many ways…
8. Had a tea party with the girls real china tea set, which quickly turned into a scene from a water park

8 things I wish I could do:

1. Start planning my wedding – I’ve already got my dress picked and venue and flowers even. Then hearing my girlfriend was getting married? Well, that just sent me into Envyville. But I will be patient
2. Go to the Canucks game tonight with my honey
3. Find a more fitted/womens Canucks jersey for less than $100
4. Get close enough to a spider to kill it with a shoe – or let it go in the garden even – haha – ya right!
5. Cut the girls hair a few inches – but they won’t hear of it, nor will Daddy or Gramma
6. Spend at least two days in Whistler or on the island with just Colin (sorry, gals)
7. Sleep in – it has become virtually impossible since I’ve become a mother – not because I don’t get the opportunities either. It’s because I’m programmed to wake up and stay awake the moment I hear the girls
8. Win the gorgeous 2009 Lexus I’m in a draw for. If I do, I’m going to rip around in it for a weekend then sell it, buy a Mazda 3, pay off the rest of our bills and pay for this wedding I’m planning…with cash!

8 shows I watch:

1. Hockey Night in Canada
2. The Hills
3. Brothers and Sisters

(those are the only three I make a point of watching – the following are ones I just stumble across while bored channel surfing and go, “Ooooh…I should remember to watch this more”)

4. Friday Night Lights (sadly, falls on Friday Movie Night and I don’t own one of those TV recorder things)
5. Grey’s Anatomy
6. Gossip Girl
7. Hell’s Kitchen
8. CSI: Miami

8 songs I’m currently diggin’ on (I just added this category cuz I felt like it):

1. Boats and Birds – Gregory and the Hawk

By far my favorite song right now – so beautiful for someone you are so madly in love with that your whole purpose in life is for them to fly, to shine, leave if you must, but leave something beautiful to remember you by. Yup. Love this song and it helps that the vocalist has a gorgeous voice – a perfect wedding song for sure.

2. Wolf Like Me – TV on the Radio

Found an old burned CD my bro made me labeled “Hey Hi…Baseball” (I love my bro for that alone) … and this was one of the tracks. Can’t get enough of it…a great work-out or cleaning song.

3. Six Days – the Remix – DJ Shadow feat Mos Def

If you loved Tokyo Drift like I did – no joke – check out the vid. DJ Shadow did something fucking amazing here. That is all.

4. Where’d You Go? – Fort Minor feat Holly Brook

Love Holly Brook, love Fort Minor – together? Pure goodness – love the story, too. To be honest, I can sometimes relate in the way that Colin’s career has him away a lot and I miss him, the togetherness or a normal 9-5 family. Only difference is that he misses us, too and makes sure I know that on a daily basis as well as pulling a massive weight around our home when he is here.

5. Got it Good – Jem

My happy place song – can’t help but smile to this and think, “Yeah…I DO have it really good” … corny, but true! This song got me through a tough time and gave me the spirit to endure the bumps and see the light.

6. Yellow – Jem

Her singing this brings instant tears to my eyes every single time – don’t know why.

7. Belief – Gavin DeGraw

Fierce love and never-faltering or second guessing devotion here – reminds me of Col and how he’s stood beside me regardless of all we’ve endured in this relationship. I’m very lucky and yeah “I’m gonna yell it from the rooftops. I’ll wear a sign on my chest. That’s the least I can do, it’s the least I can do.” 

8. Teardrop – Massive Attack

A slow, trippy, trance-y song – right up my alley. Ignore the video, it’s way creepy. Would love to hear this is a club or car or something with an amazing sound and bass.